Rocker-actuated electric slide switch



1965 D. H. CAMPBELL ETAL 3,217,112

ROCKER-ACTUATED ELECTRIC SLIDE SWITCH Filed Oct. 24. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 7 3 Q INVENTORS. w pz/azfiy/zowpaflL 3 2-r ll 5 BY JAMESESULUI/AN. a 1" P15. 4 i 4 l A dlawimw F ATTORNEYS 1955 D. H. CAMPBELL ETAL 3,217,112

ROCKER-ACTUATED ELECTRIC SLIDE SWITCH Filed Oct. 24. 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ IN VEN TORS.

DUDLEV H. CAMPBELL 50 JIMES f. $ULL/V4/V 6 2% 'i-aw 2%.

.X JTTORIVEVS.

United States l atent O 3,217,112 ROCKER-ACTUATED ELECTRIC SLIDE SWITCH Dudley H. Campbell and James F. Sullivan, St. Marys,

Pa., assignors to Stackpole Carbon Company, St. Marys, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 318,615 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-16) This invention relates to electric slide switches, and more particularly to those in which reciprocation of a contact is produced by rocking an actuating member.

Slide switches are well known in which a slide that carries one or more contacts is movable back and forth in a straight line by a projecting button to slide the contacts over stationary contacts in order to open and close electric circuits. The operation of such a switch requires movement of the hand or finger in a direction generally parallel to the path of movement of the slide. In many installations, however, it is preferred that the switch be actuated by applying pressure substantially perpendicular to the slide, more like a push button switch.

It is an object of this invention to provide for easily and inexpensively adapting an ordinary slide switch to actuation by pressure applied to it substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the slide. Other objects are to provide a rocker-actuated slide switch, which is suitable for three position switching, and which is especially suitable for use with fluorescent lights.

In accordance with this invention, a separate metal bracket is attached to the top of a conventional slide switch housing having a slot in its top. The bracket has a slot registering with the housing slot so that the usual slide button can extend through the bracket. The bracket includes a pair of ears projecting upwardly from its opposite sides midway between the ends of the slots. A finger-actuated rocker has a central portion disposed between the ears and pivotally connected thereto. The rocker is formed for engagement with transverse surfaces of the button for pushing it along the housing slot in either direction when the rocker is rocked. Preferably, the button has a transverse slot extending downwardly from its upper end and the rocker is provided with a cross pin that extends through that slot for moving the button as the rocker is rocked.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan View of a switch;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end view;

FIG. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the switch, showing the slide in the other of its two positions;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on the line VV of FIG. 4; and

FIGS. 6 to are views corresponding, respectively, to FIGS. 1 to 5, of a modified switch.

The switches disclosed herein will be described and claimed as if they were suspended from a horizontal member, but it will be understood that this is merely for descriptive purposes and is not to be taken as a limitation as to the position in which the switches may be used.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a conventional slide switch 1 is shown which may be similar, for example, to the one shown in the copending patent application, Serial Number 137,898, filed September 13, 1961, now Patent No. 3,158,698. This switch includes the usual inverted channel-shape metal housing 2 provided at opposite ends of its top with projecting ears 3. Clamped to the bottom of the housing in spaced relation with its top is an insulating base 4 that carries a plurality of stationary electric contacts 5. For best results there should not be more than three of these contacts, one at the center 3,217,112 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 "ice of the base and the others between that contact and the opposite ends of the base.

Disposed in the housing between its top and the insulating base is a slide 7 that has a central button 8 projecting up through a longitudinal slot 9 in the top of the housing. The slide is provided centrally with an upwardly extending recess in which there is a coil spring 10 that presses a bridging contact 11 down against the stationary center contact and one of the end contacts. When this switch is used in the conventional manner as an ordinary slide switch, the button is merely moved back and forth by means of the fingers to slide the bridging contact from one stationary end contact to the other.

It is a feature of this invention that this conventional slide switch can readily be converted into a rocker-actuated switch by attaching to the housing a bracket in which a rocker is pivotally mounted. Accordingly, a sheet metal bracket 13 is spot welded or otherwise attached to the top of switch housing ears 3 and is provided with a slot 14 that registers with the housing slot to accommodate the slide button. The ends of the bracket are adapted to be connected to a support, such as a panel or plate 15. If desired, these end may be integral portions of the bracket that extend upwardly in parallel relation, with their upper ends turned outwardly and provided with holes that receive bolts 16 that attach the bracket to the supporting plate. Opposite sides of the base of the bracket are provided with a pair of upwardly projecting integral ears 17 midway between the ends of the housing slot. Disposed between these ears is the central portion of a fingeractuated rocker 18, which is pivotally connected to the ears. Preferably, the upper ends of the ears are provided with aligned holes, into which extend trunnions 19 projecting from the opposite sides of the rocker. It is preferred to mold the rocker and trunnions in one piece from a suitable synthetic plastic. The upper part of the rocker extends through a slot 20 in plate 15.

In order for the rocker to actuate the slide switch, the rocker is formed in such a way that it straddles the button so that it can engage the transverse surfaces thereof. For this purpose the ends of the rocker extend down toward the slide switch in spaced relation with the button and have integral lugs 22 extending toward each other and substantially into engagement with the adjacent sides of the button. The top of the rocker may be rounded, provided with a short radial projection, or it may be in the form of a shallow V so that when the slide is at either end of the switch housing half of the top of the rocker will be nearly flush with the top of the plate, and the other half of the top of the rocker will project above the plate at an angle. When this high part of the rocker is pressed down, the underlying lug 22 will push the slide button toward the opposite end 'of the switch housing, and the previously horizontal surface of the rocker will tilt up above the supporting plate.

By constructing a switch in the manner just explained, it is possible for the manufacturer to make one type of slide switch that can be used as a conventional slide switch or, by simply attaching the rocker-carrying bracket 13 to the switch housing, converted into a rocker switch. The manufacturer therefore avoids having to make and stock two different types of slide switches.

The switch just described is perfectly satisfactory for a two position slide switch as shown, but when a three position switch is desired it will be seen that the rocker would have to rotate so far that its button-engaging lugs 22 would swing away from the slide button, so there would be considerable free play in the rocker. Therefore, for three position switches, the rocker system shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 is preferred. With this modified switch a transverse vertical slot 24 is cut in the slide button 25 for slidably receiving a cross pin 26, the ends of which are mounted in a pair of laterally spaced legs 27 extending down from the central portion of a rocker 28 and into the narrow space between the opposite sides of the button and the upright metal ears 29 in which the rocker is pivotally mounted, such as by integral trunnions 30 projecting into holes in the upper ends of the ears. The ears project upwardly from opposite sides of a sheet metal bracket 31 attached in any suitable manner to the top of the metal housing 32 of the slide switch 33. The bracket and the top of the housing are provided with registering slots 34 and 35, through which the slide button extends and along which it can be moved. The ends of the bracket are fastened by bolts 36 to a supporting panel or plate 37, provided with a slot 38 through which the bracket ears and slide button project.

When the slide button is at the center of the slots, the rocker legs 27 will be vertical and therefore cross pin 26 will be at the lower end of the button slot. When the rocker is rocked by a finger, the cross pin will be swung upward in an arc and will push the slide button toward one end or the other of the slots as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. This arrangement provides for a three position switch without any loose play between the rocker and the slide button.

Our switch is especially suitable for fluorescent lighting where starters are not used and therefore a starting circuit hasto be closed for a moment before the light will turn on. That requires a three position switch. As shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the reciprocating slide 40 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending recesses, in which there are bridging contacts 41 and 42 pressed downwardly by coil springs 43 and 44. One of these contacts is adapted to bridge two of three stationary contacts 45, 46 and 47 mounted in a row on an insulating base. The other bridging contact slides on two stationary contacts 48 below it on the base.

When the slide is at the left-hand end of the housing as shown in FIG. 7, the switch is turned off. The on position is when the slide button is directly between ears 29, with bridging contact 42 engaging fixed contacts 45 and 46. However, before a fluorescent light to which this switch is connected will come on, the slide must be moved from its central position toward the right to a start position shown in FIG. 9. The slide is held in this position only long enough for the light to flicker on and then the slide is moved back to the central on position to maintain illumination. To return the slide from the start position to the on position, a coil spring is mounted in the switch housing in a location where it will be compressed by the slide in the start position. Thus, a headed pin 50 may be slidably mounted in a tongue 51 bent down from the top of the switch housing near its right-hand end. A coil spring 52 encircling this pin urges it to the left as shown in FIG. 7. When the slide is in its central on position it just touches the inner end of the pin. Therefore, when the slide is moved to the right to the start position it pushes the pin to the right and compresses the spring as shown in FIG. 9. As soon as the light comes on, the finger is removed from the rocker so that the spring can expand and push the slide back to on position.

To help stop the slide in on position and hold it there, one side of the slide may be provided with a recess in which there is a coil spring 53 that urges a ball detent 54 out against the adjoining side of the switch housing. The ball can slide or roll along the housing as the slide is moved back and forth, but in the central on position the ball projects into an opening 55 (FIG. 7) in the side of the housing. This insures that the bridging contacts will be indexed into correct position when the switch is supposed to be on. It will be seen that when the high end of the rocker in the off position in FIG. 7 is pressed all of the way down the slide will be moved from its off position to the start position at the opposite end of the switch housing as shown in FIG. 9. When the rocker is released, spring 52 will move the slide back to the on position. Finger pressure down on the right-hand end of the rocker will turn off the switch.

We claim:

1. An electric slide switch comprising a housing having a top provided with a slot, an insulating base for the housing spaced from said'top, a plurality of spaced stationary electric contacts projecting from the upper surface of the base in a row extending lengthwise of said slot, a slide disposed in the housing for movement lengthwise of the slot and provided with an actuating button projecting through the slot, a movable contact member carried by said slide for movement by it across the stationary contacts, a separate metal bracket attached to the top of said housing and having a slot registering with said housing slot, the bracket including a pair of integral ears projecting upwardly from its opposite sides midway between the ends of the housing slot, the upper ends of said ears having aligned holes therethrough, a finger-actuated rocker having a central portion disposed between the ears and provided with integral trunnions pivotally mounted in said holes, said rocker being made of a plastic and formed for engagement with transverse surfaces of said button for pushing it along the housing slot when the rocker is rocked.

2. An electric slide switch comprising a metal housing having a top provided with a slot, an insulating base for the housing spaced from said top, a plurality of spaced stationary electric contacts projecting from the upper surface of the base in a row extending lengthwise of said slot, a slide disposed in the housing for movement lengthwise of the slot and provided with an actuating button projecting through the slot, said button having a transverse slot extending downwardly from its upper end, a movable contact carried by said slide for movement by it across the stationary contacts, a separate metal bracket attached to the top of said housing and having a slot registering with said housing slot, the bracket including a pair of integral ears projecting upwardly from its opposite sides midway between the ends of the housing slot, the upper ends of said ears having aligned holes therethrough, a finger-actuated plastic rocker having a central portion disposed between the ears and provided with integral trunnions pivotally mounted in said holes, said central portion having a pair of laterally spaced legs extending down between said ears and button, and a horizontal pin extending through said button slot with its ends mounted in the lower ends of said legs for pushing the button along the housing slot when the rocker is rocked.

3. A fluorescent light switch comprising a metal housing having a top provided with a slot, an insulating base for the housing spaced from said top, a plurality of spaced stationary electric contacts projecting from the upper surface of the base in a row extending lengthwise of said slot, a slide disposed in the housing for movement lengthwise of the slot and provided with an actuating button projecting through the slot, a pair of bridging contacts spaced lengthwise of said slide and carried thereby for movement by it across some of the stationary contacts, the slide being movable in opposite directions from a central on position to either of two end positions, one of said end positions being an off position and the other end position being a start position, a spring carried by said housing at said start position end of the slide and engaged by the slide in said on position, said slide button having a transverse slot extending downwardly from its upper end, a separate metal bracket attached to the top of said housing and having a slot registering with said housing slot, the bracket including a pair of integral ears projecting upwardly from its opposite sides midway between the ends of the housing slot, at finger-acutated rocker having a central portion disposed between the ears, means pivotally connecting said central portion to the upper ends of said ears, said central portion having a pair of laterally spaced legs extending down between said ears and button, and a horizontal pin extending through said button slot with its ends mounted in the lower ends of said legs for pushing the button along the housing slot when the rocker is rocked, said spring being compressible by said slide in start position to thereby return the slide to on position when the rocker is released.

4. A fluorescent light switch according to claim 3, in which a side of said slide is provided with a recess, a spring-pressed detent is mounted in the recess in sliding engagement with the adjoining side of the housing, and said housing side is provided with an indexing opening for receiving said detent when the slide is in said on position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Kapfer, A. W., Stringer, I. W.: Universal Switch Actuator, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, October 1960, vol. 3, No. 5, p. 19.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC SLIDE SWITCH COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A TOP PROVIDED WITH A SLOT, AN INSULATING BASE FOR THE HOUSING SPACED FROM SAID TOP, A PLURALITY OF SPACED STATIONARY ELECTRIC CONTACTS PROJECTING FROM THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BASE IN A ROW EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF SAID SLOT, A SLIDE DISPOSED IN THE HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT LENGTHWISE OF THE SLOT AND PROVIDED WITH AN ACTUATING BUTTON PROJECTING THROUGH THE SLOT, A MOVABLE CONTACT MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID SLIDE FOR MOVEMENT BY IT ACROSS THE STATIONARY CONTACTS, A SEPARATE METAL BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING AND HAVING A SLOT REGISTERING WITH SAID HOUSING 